Best Bachelor's Degrees in Sales

Study.com researched unique attributes for schools in the U.S. that offer Bachelor's degrees in the field of sales, and we've come up with this list of the best universities to help you sharpen your sales skills and begin a new career path with confidence. We used several pieces of data from the Department of Education, such as graduation rates, tuition prices, and student retention, to focus on the following accessible and affordable schools that shine in the areas of job placement and networking opportunities in the real-world sales market. These schools offer ample opportunities to learn necessary sales techniques, brush up on the latest sales technologies, gain interpersonal relationship-building skills, and network to build relationships that will propel you into internships and further careers with success.

1. Weber State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$5,986	No Available Data (2019-2020)	34%	91%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

Weber State University, located in Ogden, Utah, is first on our list with its dedicated Department of Professional Sales, where students can earn an extensive Bachelor of Science in Professional Sales. Weber State University aims to ensure students on this degree path will learn everything necessary to succeed in the field of sales, from advanced selling techniques and negotiations to retail merchandising and the latest CRM technologies. Students can even tailor their degrees with specific emphasis in a wide variety of sales categories, including brokerage and medical equipment sales. To help students succeed in the real world and find employment, Weber State University partners with the Alan E. Hall Center for Sales Excellence to list job opportunities and offer positions upon graduation.

2. Texas A&M University-College Station

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$11,361	58%	82%	76%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

Texas A&M University-College Station's Department of Marketing offers a specialized Professional Selling and Sales Management track within their Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing degree program. On this pathway, students are given a core learning experience based on fundamental concepts and techniques in the marketing world while taking elective sales courses that provide real-world scenarios to build critical skills. From there, this track offers sales-minded students various opportunities to network with sales professionals and even participate in local and national sales competitions. The Selling and Sales Management track at Texas A&M University prides itself on leaving students with a distinct advantage in the job market and enhanced interpersonal communication skills.

3. Tuskegee University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$22,614	52%	52%	100%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

Tuskegee, Alabama is home to Tuskegee University, a historic university that currently ranks in the Top 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the nation and prides itself on a 14:1 faculty to student ratio. In its Bachelor of Science in Sales and Marketing degree pathway, students at Tuskegee University will not only focus on learning fundamental sales and marketing theory and core business skills but will also develop ethical perspectives and a sense of moral responsibility. With this Sales and Marketing degree, students are given ample opportunities to demonstrate the importance of developing buyer-supplier relationships and the ability to research, make decisions, and use feedback to control business systems operations.

4. University of Houston

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$9,221	65%	61%	87%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

At the University of Houston in Texas, the C.T. Bauer College of Business is home to the Stephen Stagner Sales Excellence Institute where internship facilitation and career placement are top priorities. In this institute, business majors can join the Program for Excellence in Selling (PES) to begin building a career in selling by leveraging technology, such as social media and Salesforce, to enhance sales productivity from the very beginning of their careers. In this distinctive program, every student engages in live sales training and must achieve a sales quota in each class as a requirement for their grade. Students who complete the necessary courses will earn a Professional Selling certificate with additional options for an advanced version.

5. Ball State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$10,020	77%	67%	91%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

At Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, students seeking a degree in sales are given the option to earn either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Professional Selling. The goal of this program is to focus on the concept that sales is both an art and a science that requires practice and experimentation. The faculty of this program all have real-world sales expertise and aim to teach students how to build trust, use persuasive communication, and master the professional selling process. This program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which means it is dedicated to a commitment to quality and peer review and it ranks in the top five percent of the world's business schools. To make the program more affordable, the Miller College of Business offers several scholarships designed specifically for sales students.

6. University of Central Oklahoma

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7,753	84%	36%	91%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

The University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Professional Selling. Through the College of Business, students in the Professional Selling major learn training techniques that focus on both cognitive and behavioral skills. This major is highly customizable, offering a variety of courses to choose from, including business logistics, purchasing materials management, and internship opportunities. The school's unique Professional Sales Lab gives students the technology needed to gain immersive feedback on their growing sales skills, and the Sales Education Foundation even lists this program as one of the top professional sales educational institutions.

7. Purdue Global

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$9,992	60%	82%	65%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

Faculty in the Bachelor of Science in Selling and Sales Management program at Purdue Global know that skills in this fast-growing industry must be sharpened beyond the classroom; that's why they emphasize experiential learning through internships and offer incredible opportunities to shadow sales professionals. Students at this West Lafayette, IN university are also invited to get involved with Purdue's Center for Professional Selling, an on-campus center that offers opportunities to connect with other sales students and participate in events throughout the school year. The center is also home to Purdue's Intercollegiate Sales Team, through which students enhance their sales abilities through speed selling exercises and case analyses as they prepare to participate in competitions nationwide.

8. University of Akron Main Campus

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$11,636	73%	46%	96%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

At the University of Akron, students can earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in Sales Management through a curriculum that is enriched by professional experiences like a capstone course through which students serve as consultants for real businesses in the Akron, OH area. The program is guided by the Executive Advisory Board of the Fisher Institute for Professional Selling, and board members frequently serve as guest lecturers and network with students at departmental events. In addition, sales management students benefit from sales and negotiating simulations in the Fisher Sales laboratory, and the College of Business also supports students by offering tutoring services in business subjects.

9. Kennesaw State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$6,456	75%	46%	92%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

At Kennesaw State University in Georgia, sales students have access to a wealth of resources through the school's Center for Professional Selling including a negotiation lab and eight rooms for sales role-playing exercises. As they pursue their Bachelor of Business Administration in Professional Sales, students develop sales plans and manage sales forces through courses taught by faculty members who are active researchers in the field. The program also emphasizes experiential learning, and a majority of its students participate in some type of cooperative education with partners such as McAfee and IBM. The school also hosts the National Collegiate Sales Competition every year, and students have additional opportunities for networking through organizations like the Student Advisory Board and the KSU Sales Club.

10. Kansas State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$10,800	95%	65%	88%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits

The Manhattan campus of Kansas State University is home to the National Strategic Selling Institute, an organization that affords professional strategic selling majors numerous opportunities for engagement like an annual Sales Week and a student-organized fundraising auction. Students can also try out for the K-State Sales Team, which participates in more than a dozen competitions nationwide. Undergraduates can join a Sales Ambassador Program where current sales students recruit new majors among the student body and a mentorship program connecting more experienced students with those new to the discipline. In the classroom, students hone their sales skills through coursework that emphasizes role-play assignments to illustrate real-world applications of sales and business theories.

11. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$13,370	75%	55%	91%	No	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

William Paterson University offers a Bachelor of Science in Professional Sales at its campus in Wayne, NJ. The university's Department of Management, Marketing, and Professional Sales is proud of the collaborative environment it creates for sales students; the program emphasizes vital communication skills along with a solid foundation in negotiation, managing customer accounts, and approaches to building relationships with customers. Students get a jump start on their careers by getting involved with the university's Professional Sales Club, which hosts events including 'Lunch and Learns', during which students can connect with the club's corporate sponsors; the club also provides students with opportunities to visit these organizations to consult with sales managers about what makes a potential sales employee an attractive hire.

To get a more in-depth look at our school ranking methodology, please visit Study.com's ranking methodology page.

Tuition information is based on published tuition and required fees, per data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Bachelor's degrees in sales don't typically offer any concentrations. It is much more common for sales to be a concentration of its own within marketing or business degrees.

A bachelor's program in this field may instruct students in a variety of topics related to sales in an effort to make graduates successful and effective salespeople. Curriculum for a bachelor's degree in sales can include subjects like the selling process, marketing research and analytics, management, persuasion, and using technology in sales. Internships also frequently feature as a requirement of these programs. Possible course titles include:

• Sales management
• Sales and technology
• Negotiating
• Theories of persuasion
• Principles of selling
• Market research & analysis
• Consumer behavior
• Sales or marketing channels

It normally takes around four years to earn a bachelor's degree in sales; most of these degrees require students to complete about 120 credit hours of coursework to obtain their degree. Generally, learners take around 15 credit hours worth of classes per semester, so it is possible to accelerate the process by taking courses in non-traditional times or taking more than the recommended number. That can be difficult, however, depending on prerequisites and internships, which may not be as flexible in many cases.

Accreditation is an important factor when evaluating the best schools for aspiring sales professionals. Accreditation can be regional, national, and/or programmatic. It helps ensure a school and degree program meets high-quality standards set by independent organizations. Choosing a school with regional accreditation increases the chances of a quality education, while also making sure a student is eligible for federal financial aid.

Common regional accreditation organizations include the Higher Learning Commission, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and the New England Commission of Higher Education. Many sales degrees will fall under the umbrella of a business school, which means they may obtain specific, programmatic accreditation through organizations such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) or Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Depending on your specific profession, you may need to get a license to work in sales. Location also plays a role, as requirements vary from state to state. For example, Wisconsin requires salespeople who work for a retail or recreational vehicle dealer to obtain a license. To be eligible for this license, individuals must work for only one dealership at a time, be at least 18, have a driver's license, and pass an exam. This regulatory step allows the state to ensure those who sell one of the most costly items people will buy know the laws surrounding the industry.

Similarly, a state may require those who sell insurance or to obtain a license. In West Virginia, for instance, these professionals must obtain a license to legally practice their trade in the state. The Offices of the Insurance Commissioner maintains a list of licensed practitioners in the state through the licensing and education division. Individuals wishing to obtain a license in that state must complete specific educational requirements and pass a test on that subject. If you plan to go into sales, be sure to check with your state to find out what licenses may be required.

In terms of certification, it is possible to earn a number of certifications that can give you an advantage in this competitive field. For example, the National Association of Sales Professionals offers both a Certified Sales Person and Certified Professional sales leader, both of which can be obtained by paying a fee and completing the required coursework. Likewise, The Global Inside Sales Association offers a Certified Inside Sales Professional certification for a fee that requires individuals to complete coursework that culminates in a live role-play of a sales scenario. In all cases, these certifications are optional, but they may prove beneficial.

Those who earn a bachelor's degree in sales can work in a number of different industries. Salespeople may find employment in fields as diverse as medical equipment and real estate or communications and financial services as a sales representative. They may also work in a similar role as a marketing manager, which has some differences from the sales manager position. Since so many types of businesses need to generate revenue, and since selling a product or service is how that money is earned in one form or another, there are an almost immeasurable number and variety of career options someone with a degree can pursue. Some job titles in this field include:

• Sales representative
• Travel agent
• Retail sales consultant|https://study.com/articles/Become_a_Retail_Sales_Consultant_Step-by-Step_Career_Guide.html]
• Real estate agent
• Manufacturing sales representative
• Pharmaceutical representative
• Sales consultant
• Account manager
• Sales Engineer

How to Become a Real Estate Broker

A real estate broker helps individuals and organizations purchase and sell properties. A college degree is not necessarily required to become a real estate broker, though it may help. At a minimum, a real estate broker must complete a number of courses and pass a licensing exam. Depending on the state, real estate brokers may also need to have some experience as a regular sales agent before earning their license.

After obtaining a license, a real estate broker solicits clients, advises them using their expertise, takes prospective buyers to view properties, mediates negotiations between the buying and selling parties, and prepares documents for the sale. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2019 that real estate brokers earned an annual median wage of $59,720; the field is projected to grow 2 percent from 2019 to 2029, slower than the average across all occupations.

How to Become a Manufacturing Sales Representative

A manufacturing sales representative may also go by the title wholesale sales representative, but the job function is essentially the same. Essentially, these individuals sell their employers' goods to government agencies, businesses, and various other organizations. This involves contacting potential customers, explaining the features of whatever product is being sold, negotiating pricing, and answering any questions a customer may have about a product. This can include attending trade shows and conferences, getting leads from existing clients, preparing sales contracts, and following up to ensure customers are happy with the products they purchase.

There are no set educational requirements for these jobs, as the expertise needed changes based on the product being sold. Some items can be sold with only a high school diploma, but selling more complex, scientific, and technical products usually require at least a bachelor's degree to be able to explain and sell them effectively. Training programs, often through companies, may still be necessary. The BLS reported in 2019 that manufacturing sales representatives earned a median annual salary of $59,930. Job in the field are expected to increase by 2 percent from 2019 to 2029.

Both the professions listed above are directly related to sales, but individuals who pursue a career in this field can work in a variety of positions within business or marketing companies or departments. That means there are a number of professional organizations available to individuals depending on their chosen career path. Three fairly general organizations that many who work in sales can join are:

• National Association of Sales Professionals - The NASP bills itself as the largest sales association in the world. It mainly exists to provide resources for its members including online training and certification, informative blog posts, video series, and career center to help people find job opportunities.
• National Retail Federation - The largest organization on this list, the NRF represents retail companies and professionals. It has existed for over a century, and in its current form the NRF does charitable work, offers professional development options, and advocates on behalf of the retail industry.
• Sales Management Association -The SMA is designed for managers working to ensure the effectiveness of a sales team. This global, cross-industry organization promotes professional development, research, thought leadership, and networking to help all those who work in supervisory roles in sales.

Requirements for a sales manager are different than salespeople; where salespeople only need a high school diploma, sales managers typically need a bachelor's degree. Advanced degrees are not commonly necessary to move to managerial roles, though they may be required to work in an analyst or consultant capacity. Instead, if you want to work as a sales manager or in a similar position, it may be more beneficial to take classes related to specific skills, including free online sales and marketing management courses. These courses may not offer college credit or lead to a degree, but they can help you sharpen your skills in sales.

By itself, that additional schoolwork may not qualify you for a promotion, however, because sales as a profession values work experience. Depending on the role, a few years spent working in a related or subordinate position is often a component of the required qualifications. The size of an organization can also affect the requirements and speed of a promotion.

With that emphasis on professional experience, it may be best for some people who want to work in sales to earn an associate degree or certificate in order to begin working as soon as possible. For those who want to pursue a career path that has a different focus than moving up to a managerial position, a master's degree or doctoral degree in sales or a related field may prove helpful. Fortunately, there are educational opportunities at each of these levels.

Associate Degrees in Sales

An associate degree in sales normally prepares students to work in the field by teaching them the core competencies needed. A degree at this level may be an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) or Associate of Science (AS). It may also be a concentration within a broader associate degree such as an associate in business administration. It usually takes about two years to earn one of these degrees, with graduates finishing approximately 60 credit hours of courses.

Master's Degrees in Sales

At the postgraduate level, it may be necessary for sales professionals to broaden their view of what degrees will benefit them. For instance, you might look to earn a degree where sales is simply a concentration, like a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in sales or sales management, or a Master of Science (MS) in marketing because there are very few programs dedicated exclusively to sales at this level. These related areas can still teach students skills needed to progress in their career, however, and are worth investigating. It normally takes at least a year to earn a master's in this field because most programs require students to complete at least 30 credit hours of classes.

Doctoral Degrees in Sales

It is even more rare to find a doctoral program geared only toward sales in the United States, necessitating those who want to earn the terminal degree in this field to once again consider a degree in a related discipline. Perhaps the most appropriate option would be a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in marketing, given that the subject is often paired with sales in lower-level degrees. A doctorate degree in marketing may be helpful for individuals who want to reach the highest levels of research or management in sales, or it can be used for those who want to become members of academia. It can take four years or more to earn this degree, depending on a given program's dissertation and credit hour requirements.

Certificates in Sales

It is possible to earn a certificate in sales at either the undergraduate or graduate levels. In the former case, these programs typically provide graduates with the foundational skills needed to begin a career in sales. In the latter case, a certificate may be focused on a particular topic like leadership, with the aim of helping a working professional further his or her skills or make a career change. Regardless of the level, it can take a few months or more to earn a certificate at this level, depending on the program.

When applying for financial aid, students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form allows students to find the federal loans, grants or work-study opportunities they might qualify for. Completing this form typically requires several governmental or financial documents like federal tax information and social security numbers.

In terms of scholarships, two excellent resources for sales majors are their schools and organizations. Many colleges and universities offer scholarships to those studying sales or those earning a marketing or business degree in general. Similarly, organizations like the professional organizations listed above often have student associations or charitable branches that may have scholarships that students can earn. To ensure you do not miss out on these funds, check with your school and applicable organizations to see what scholarships you may be able to earn.